Lubricating apparatus



H. J. MURPHY LUBRI-CATING APPARATUS- Filed Feb. 11. 1925 Nov. '1, 1927.'

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HOWVARID J". MURPHY, 0F READING, .MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE BASSICK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Application filed February This invention aimsto provide an improved pressure lubricating system.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred form of my inventionFigure 1 is a central longitudinalsection of a lubricant-expelling gun,being partly in elevation; p

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of the nozzle shownin 1, with the lubricant-receiving part partly engaged in the nozzle,some of the "parts being in elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but wlth the lubricant-receivingpart fully entered within the nozzle and the valve fully opened.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a lubricant-expelling devicewhich is simple,

compact and inexpensive in construction,

and which also includes means for expelling lubricant under arelativelylow potential pressure, a relatively high potential or .aninitial high pressure and then a low pressure, all of which may beaccomplished by very simple Operations. With the device. illustrated,lubricant may be expelled under relatively higher potential pressurewith a lesser amount of torque than has heretofore been possible inother known devices for similar use.

The drawings show a lubricant-expelling gun including a barrel 1 havinga rear head 2 .into which is threaded a plungerstem '3 carrying theusual plunger 4 interiorly of the barrel 1, and a handle 5. At thedischarge end of the gun, I have shown a front head 6, which is formedas a part of the barrel 1 and tapers from the barrel of the gun to aforwardly-projecting portion 7 interiorly threaded to engage theexterior threads of a nozzle part hereinafter more fully describedj Acoupling member 9 is threadedly secured to the intermediate part 8 andpresents interiorly thereof relatively steep pitch threads, herein shownas triple, for engage: ment with the threads on the lubricant-receivingpart or nipple 9 as illustrated in p tratedin Figs. 2 and 3. Thecoupling member 9 is also provided Figs. 2 and 3.

with a steel washer 10 and a sealing or hat washer 11, which are held inplace between the end of the aligning part Sand a shoulder in thecoupling 9 thereby to provide sealing 11, 1925. Serial No. 8,582.

means to prevent leakage of lubricant past the periphery of thelubricant-receiving nipple 9 (Fig. Thus the lubricant-receiving nipple,coupling and sealing means are substantially as shown and morefullydescribed in my co-pending application Serial No. 616,302. v p

The nozzle 6 of the lubricant-expelling device is provided with alubricant-receiving chamber 12 having means at .each end thereof forentrapping the lubricant in the chamher. At the discharge end of thechamber 12, I have provided an inwardly Opening closure valve 13 whichis normally held seated against the valveseat 15 by suitable springmeans herein shown as a spring 16. At the inner end of the chamber 12, Ihave provided a valve-carrying part 17, which carries an means hereinshown as a spring 19 interposed between the check valve and a collar 20.

'outwardly opening check valve 18 normally -urged into closed positionby suitable spring The collar 20 is driven into the open end of thevalve-carrying part 17 and provides a seat for one end of the spring 16and one end of the spring 19.

Engagement of the lubricant-expelling gun with the lubricant-receivingnipple 9 rotated in a clockwise direction and the Thus the couplingmember 9, which is rigidly secured to the barrel 1, is

female threads located in the coupling engage the male threads on thelubricant-receiving nipple, thereby drawing the coupling member 9' overnipple. During coupling engagement of-the lubricant expelling gun withthe lubricantreceiving nipple, the smooth end 21 of the nipple passesthrough an aperture in the washer 10 and the hat washer 11 and forcesinwardly the closure valve'13, as-best illus- The steel washer 10provides a new and useful function in this device because it not onlycenters the'nozzle relative to the nipple but also acts as a stopagainst which the male threads of the nipple may abut during thelubricant-receiving coupling action, thereby to limit the movement ofthe nozzle .over the nipple, as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

' Rotation of the handle 5 in a clockwise direction after thelubricant-expelling gun has been coupled with the lubricant-receivingnipple, forces the piston 4 inwardly rela tive to the barrel 1, therebyforcing lubricant under relatively low pressure from the barrel past theball check 18 through the chamber 12, and then past the closure valve 13and through the slot 22 in the front end of the closure valve into thelubricant-receiving nipple 9. Lubricantforced into thelubricant-receiving nipple in the above-mentioned manner is under arelatively low potential pressure which is sufficient to lubricate abearing free from dirt or hardened lubricant. The low potential pressurewill depend on the diameter of the barrel, the pitch of the threads onthe stem 3 and the torque applied thereto. As compared with the highpotential pressure hereinafter described,

pressures of even one or two thousand pounds per square inch may beconsidered low. 1

Tf a .bearing cannot be properly lubricated with lubricant that isforced to it under a relatively low potential pressure,,the pressure ofthe lubricant may be greatly in ;creased by permitting the barrel 1 tobe turned in a contra-clockwise direction so that the closure valve 13may return to its seat and allow the chamber 12 to become filled withlubricant. The chamber 12, as the valve 13 closes, becomes filled withlubricant because the pressure on the lubricant in the barrel forcessome of the lubricant past the. ball check 18. and into the chamber 12.

By turning the handle 5 again in a clockwise direction, the closurevalve 13 is forced open and into the chamber 12 by the smooth end of thelubricant-receiving nipple 9,

which acts asa displacing plunger to force lubricant from; the chamber12 at a relatively high potential'pressure. When forcing lubricant underhigh pressure, the torque exerted upon the handle 5 does not have to beas great as when forcing lubricant under low pressure. While thelubricant is being thus forced from the chamber 12, it is prevented fromleaking back into the barrel 1 .by the the gun over the smooth end 21 ofthe nipple 9 substantially as described in the above- -mentionedapplication.

Even aside from ts broader aspects, the construction illustratedlnvolves many important features. Thus the inwardly opening valve 13prevents leakage of lubricant when the nozzle is disconnected from the-nipple, notwithstanding that very substantial pressure may be left inthe barrel 1, and the location of this valve in front of the compressionchamber instead of behind it .entraps lubricant so that it will not runout when disengaged even. though very fluid. Additionally, in ordinaryoperation the chamber 12 will be full each time that the nozzle isdisconnected from a nipple so that during the coupling operation thenext nipple i'sautomatically subjected to a very high potentialpressure, say 12,000 pounds or more. Of course the actual pressureexerted will depend upon theresistanc'e op; posed to expulsion of' thelubricant fromthe chamber 12, and when the bearing to be lubricated "isfree, very little of the potential pressure may be utilized, thecoupling-operationrequiring correspondingly less torque.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of one embodiment ofmy in involving omission, alteration, substitution 1} and reversal ofparts, and even changes in.

vention, it will be. understood that changes the mode of operation, maybe madewitliev out departing from the scope of my inven tion, which isbest defined in the following claims. 1'

I claim 1. Lubricant apparatus for injecting or oil into machinebearings comprising, in" combination, a source of lubricant underpressure above atmospheric,-Lmeans forming a chamber in lubricantcommunication with too said source and a coupling for connection to avlubricant receiving nipple, said coupling having a movable connectionwith said nipple permitting the latter alternately to expand andcontract the effective volumetric lubricant receiving capacity of saidchember, sealing means engaging the periphery of said nipple'forrendering fluid tight the joint between said coupling and nipple, andvalvular means controlling lubricant flow from said source into saidchamber eifective to permit flow only from said source to said chamberand to prevent return flow.

' 2. Lubricant apparatus for injecting grease or oil into machinebearings through lubricant receiving nipples associated with saidbearings comprising, in combination, a. lubricant reservoir providedwith a lubricant exit and lubricant'displacing means for forcinglubricant from said reservoir through said exit, lubricant conductingconduit means receiving the lubricant from'said exit,

accuses nipples, cooperating cam means on said n1 ples and said conduitmeans for causing re ative rotation of said conduit means andnipples toeifect relative reciprocation of the two for alternately expanding andcontracting the volumetric lubricant receiving capacity ofsaid conduitmeans, and valvular means for closing communicationbetween said conduitmeans and reservoir when the capacity of said conduit means is beingcontracted and for establishing such communication when the capacity isbeing expanded,

valve means adjacent the discharge end of said conduit means forpositively preventing egress of lubricant'when the nipple is removedtherefrom, and sealing means for rendering lubricant tight the jointbetween said nipple andnozzle when said nipple is entered into saidconduit means and said valve means is opened to said conduit means.

3. Apparatus for injecting oil or grease into machinebearingscomprising, in combination, means providing a source oflubricant under pressure, lubricant conducting conduit means connectedto said source comprising a discharge nozzle adapted to receive'alubricant receiving nipple, said conduit means having a check valveandnor-' mally closed valve means beyond said check valve, said check valveoperative to permit flow of lubricant from said source toward saidnozzle and to oppose return flow, and said normally closed valve meansadapted to be positively opened when the'nipple is en-.

tered into said nozzle. 4. Apparatus for in ecting Oll or grease intomachine bearings comprising, in combination, means providing a-source oflubricant under pressure, lubricant conducting conduit' means connectedto said source comprising a discharge nozzle adapted toreceive alubricant receiving nipple, said conduit means having a check valve andnormally closed valve means beyond said check valve, said check valveoperative to permit flow of lubricant .from said source toward saidnozzle and to oppose return flow, said normally closed valve means insaid nozzle adapted to be mechanically opened when the nipple is enteredinto said nozzle, and sealing means for rendering fluid tight the jointbetween said nozzle and nipple.

Apparatus for injecting oil or grease .into machine bearings comprising,in combination, means providin a source of lubricant under pressure,lubricant conducting conduit means connected to said source comprising adischarge'nozzle adapted to receive a lubricant receiving nipple, saidconduit means having a check valve and normally closed valve meansbeyond said check valve, said check valve operative to permit flow oflubricant from said source toward said noz-' permit discharge fromclosed valve means adapted to be opened said nipple and partly by saidnozzle for drawing one toward the other by relative rotation forcompressing the lubricant in ad- Vance of the check valve during openingmovement of said normally closed valve.

" 6. Lubricant apparatus for injecting or oil under pressure intomachine bearings comprising, in combination, means forming a chamber,asource' of lubricant under pres sure above atmospheric, said sourceconnect; ed to said chamber throu h, valve means permitting passage ofIn ricant from said source to said chamber and preventing return flow, alubricant receiving nipple, a coupling for connecting said chamber tosaid nipple providing for relative movement between said nipple andcoupling for forcing lubricant from said chamber into said nipple, aclosure valve in said coupling adapted to be opened when said couplingis. connected to said nipple, and a check valve in said nipple acting toprevent escape of lubricant therefrom. Y.

7. .Lubricant' apparatus for injecting grease or oil under pressure intomachine bearings comprising, in combination, means forming a chamber, asource of lubricant un der pressure aboveatmospheric, said sourceconnected to said chamber through valve means permitting passage oflubricant from said source to said chamber and preventing return flow, alubricant receiving nipple, a coupling for connecting said chamber tosaid nipple providing for relative movement between saidnipple-andcoupling for forcing lubricant from saidchamber into saidnipple, inwardly opening valve means at one when the lubricant receivingnipple is entered into said coupling, sealing means pro-. viding alubricant tight seal between said coupling and said nipple, and a checkvalve in said nipple acting to prevent escape of lubricant therefrom. I

8. Lubricant apparatus for injecting grease or oil under pressure intomachine bearings comprising, in combination, means forming a chamber, asource of lubricant under pressure above atmospheric, said sourceconnected to said chamber through valve means permitting passage oflubricant from said source to said chamber and preventing return flow, alubricant receiving nipple, a coupling for connecting said chamber tosaid nipple providing for relative movement between said, nipple andcoupling for forcing lubricant from said chamber into said nipple, andsealing means carried by said coupling for engagement with the peripheryof said nipple to provide a lubricant tight seal between said couplingand said nipple.

9. Lubricating apparatus comprising, in

combination, a barrel, means for expelling lubricant from:sa1d barrel,means forming a chamber generally aligned with said barrel andpresenting-asubstantially smaller crosssectional area than said barrel,a valve controlling communication between said barrel and said chamberto permit passage of lubricant in one direction only,a coupling be--yond said chamber for engagement with a lubricant-receiving nipple, andvalve means at one end of said chamber actuated by relative movementbetween said coupling and said lubricant-receiving nipple to permit saidripple to discharge lubricant from said.

' said chamber and normally closing said end,

' low potential pressure,

said valve adapted to engage said lubricantreceiving nipple when saidchamber is moved toward said lubricant-receiving nipple therebyunseating said-valve and permitting said nipple to force lubricant outof said chamber into said lubricant-receiving nipple under a relativelyhigh potential pressure.

11. Lubricating apparatus comprising, in combination, a barrel, meansfor expelling lubricant from said barrel under a relatively a handle formanually operating said means, a chamber of substantially smallercross-sectional area than said barrel located in a fixed relation tosaid barrel, meanspermitting flow of lubricant from said barrel to saidchamber and preventing reverse flow, and a coupling for said chamber formovable engagement with a lubricant-receiving part, said handleoperative to expel lubricant under high or low potential pressure intosaid lubricant-receivin; part. r f 12. Lubricating apparatus comprising,in combination, a barrel, manually operable means for expellinglubricant therefrom, a chamber located in a fixed relation relative tosaid barrel and having a cross-sectional area substantially less thansaid barrel, a check valve located at the inner end of said chamber topermit passage of lubricant only from said barrel to said chamber, acoupling for said chamber for engagement with a lubricant receivingpart, and means operative in. one direction to permit passage oflubricant from said barrel by way of said cham-. her to saidlubricant-receiving part under a relatively low'potential pressure andoperative in the opposite direction to prevent lubricant flow from saidchamber for permitting filling of said chamber with lubricant from saidbarrel and thereafter. oper ativein the first-mentioned direction toper-.-v

mit said part to force the lubricant, entrapped in said chamber by saidcheck valve, into said lubricant-receiving part under relatively highpotential pressure.

13. Lubricating apparatus comprising, 'in

combination, a barrel, manually-operable expelling means for forcinglubricant'therefrom, a valve-carrying part secured tosaidbarr el, achamber'in said valve-carrying part presenting a substantially smallercross-sectional area than said barrel, a coupling secured to saidvalve-carrying part, for engagement with a lubricant-receiving part, anda valve at the inner end of said chamber to permit passage of lubricantfrom said barrel into said chamber and ,to prevent return flow, saidlubricant thereafter forced from said chamber by relative movementbetween said coupling and said lubricant-receiving part.

14. A pressure paratus comprising, in combination, a lubricant-receivingchamber "having a relatively small cross-sectional area, a couplingbeyond said chamber for engagement with a lubridevice for lubricatingapcant-receiving nipple, means for entrapping lubricant in said chamber,a lubricantpressed hat'washer adapted to fit over the end of saidlubricant-receiving nipple and a spring-pressed valve normallyclosingthe outlet end of said chamber, said valve actuated bymovement'of said chamber toward said lubricant-receiving nipple topermit check valve located at the inlet end of said chamber to trap thelubricant in said chamber after it has passed said check valve, and aclosure valve located at the front end of said chamber and, operated byengagement thereof with the end of said nipple to permit displacement oflubricant from said chamber under relatively high potential pressure bysaid nipple.

'16. Lubricating apparatus comprising, in combination, a barrel, meansfor expelling lubricant therefrom, a chamber having a substantiallysmaller cross-sectional area cant-receiving part presenting cooperatingmale threads, and a valve engageable .with

- the end of saidlubricant-receiving part and opened thereby to permitpassage of lubricant from said barrel through said chamber under arelatively low potential pressure to said lubricant-receiving part whensaid coupllng is rotated to engage the female threads with the malethreads of said lubricant-receiving part.

17. A pressure booster for lubricating apparatus comprising, incombinatlon, means orming a chamber adapted to receive luhricant, valvesat both ends of said chamber to trap lubricant therein, a couplingbeyond said chamber presenting a plurality of female threads, and alubricant-receiving part presenting a plurality of male threads forengagement with said female threads, the pitch of said threads beingsuch thatvsaid coupling may be rotated by thevpressure of lubricant insaid" chamber when said coupling is engaged ing part.

18. Lubricating apparatus comprising, in combination, a barrel,manuallyv operable means for expelling lubricant from said barrel underrelatively low potential pressure, means-forming a chamber rigidlysecured to said-barrel, a coupling for said chamber rigidly securedthereto for en agement with a lubricant-receiving nipp e, a ballcheckbetween said barrel and said chamber'for trapping the lubricant insaid chamber, and a closure -valve at the outlet I end of said chamberoperable by said nipple to permit entrance of said nipple into saidchamber whereby to force lubricant from said chamber into said nippleunder a rela- 19. Lubricating apparatus comprising, in combination, acontainer for supplying lubricant under a relatively low potential pressure, a lubricant-receiving nipple presenting the male portion of acoupling, a discharge nozzle, lubricant-conducting conduit meansconnecting said container with said nozzle, said inozzle having a femaleportion for coupling engagement with said nipple, said nozzle and nipplepresenting cooperating inclined means for drawing said nozzle'over saidnipple when said nozzle is turned relative to said nipple, said nozzlecontaining an inwardly opening closure valve openable by Y said nipplewhen said nozzle is connected to said nipple, and a check valve insaid0011'- duit means between said closure valve and said container, saidcheck valve permitting flow of lubricant from said container butopposing reverse flow of the lubricant.

20. Lubricating apparatus comprising, in

combination, a container for supplying luwith said lubricant-receiv-"zle and nipple presenting cooperating inclined means for drawing saidnozzle over said nipple when said nozzle is turned relative to saidnipple, said nozzle containin an inwardly opening closure valve openab eby said nipple when said'nozzle is connected to said nipple, a checkvalve in saidconduit means between said closure valve andsaid-container, said check-valve permitting flow of lubricant from saidcontainer but opposing reverse How of the lubricant, and-a peripherallubricant-pressed seal" in said nozzle seated against the peripheryofsaid nipple during the entire opening and closing of, said closurevalve. a

21, Lubricating apparatus comprising, in combination, a container .forsupplying lubricant under 'a relatively low potential pressure, alubricant-receiving nipple presenting the male portion of a coupling, adischarge nozzle, lubricant-conducting conduit. means connecting saidcontainer with said nozzle, said nozzle having a female portion forcoupling engagement with said nipple, said nozzle and nipple presentingcooperating inclined means for drawing said nozzle combination, acontamer for supplying Inbricant under a relatively low potential pres-.

sure, a lubricant-receiving nipple presenting'the maleportion of acoupling, a discharge nozzle, lubricant-conducting conduitv meansconnecting sald container with sald nozzle, said nozzle having a femaleportion for coupling engagement with said nipple,

said nozzle and nipple presenting cooperating inclined-means for drawingsaid nozzle over said nipple when said nozzle is turned relative to saidnipple, said nozzle containing an inwardly opening closure valveopenable by said nipple when said nozzle is connected to said nipple, anannular seat for said closure valve having an internal diameter greaterthan the end portion of said nipple, and a check valve in said": conduitmeans between said closure valveandsaid container, said checlcvalvepermitting flowof lubricant from said container but opposing reverseflow of the lubricant.

23. A lubricant-expelling device comprise ing, in combination, a barrel,a reduced end portion integral with one end of said barrel,

a valve-carrying part adapted to fit said reducedportion-and carrying acheck valve adjacent one end thereof and a closure valve adjacent theother end, said part having a high pressurechamber betweensaid valves ofa cross-sectional area substantially smaller than said barrel,.couplingmeans carried by said part for engagementwith a lubri cant-receivingnipple, and a hat washer in said part forwardly of said closure valvefor engagement with said nipple. I

Q LQA lubricant-expelling device comprising, in'combination, a barrel, aplunger in said barrel, a threaded stem for said plunger, an operatinghandle on said stem, a nut for said stem carried by one end of said'barrel, a reduced end portion integral with the end of saidbarrelopposite said nut, a valvecarrying part adapted to fit saidreduced portion and carrying a: check valve adjacent one end thereof anda closure valve adjacent the other end, said part having a high pressurechamber between said valvesrof a 7 ing said displacing member, meansforming a nut carried by said receptacle for coaction' with said,stem,a'handle for said stem; andmeans including cooperating cam means on saidnozzle and nipple and lubricant conducting passages for effecting -byrotation of said handle connection of said nozzle to said nipple andthereafter forcing lubricant under relatively low-potential pressurefrom said receptacle into said chamber and from said chamber underrelatively high potential pressure into said nipple, said meansincluding a lubricant actuated valve device for interruptingcommunication between. said re-.

, ceptacle and chamber.

26. Lubricating apparatus for forcinggrease or oil under pressure intomachine bearings through nipples associated with said bearings having,1n combination; means forming a relatively non-rotatable lubricantreceiving chamber, nozzle for connection to a nipple, and lubricantreceptacle; an operating hand'le connected to a stem. extending intosaid receptacle, a lubricant displacing member in said receptacleoperatively connected to said stem; and means actuated by rotation ofsaid handle for connecting said nozzle to a nipple and thereafterforcing lubricant under relatively low potential pressure by saiddisplacing member from said receptacle into said chamber and forcing thelubricant under relatively high potentia-l pressure from said chamberinto said nipple, said meanscomprising a fluid actuated valve device forinterrupting communr cation between said receptacle and chamber.

27. Lubricating apparatus for forcing grease or oil under pressure intomachine bearings through nipples associated with said bearings having,incombination, means forming alubricant receptacle and communicatinglubricant receiving chamber and nozzle for connection to-a nipple, anormally closedvalve device for controlling communication between saidcliamber and nozzle, an operating handle, and means actuated by ro-'tation of said handle to eflect forcing of lubricant under relativelylow potential pressure from said receptacle into saidchamber and fromsaid chamber under relatively high.

potential pressure past said valve into a nipple, said means comprisinga lubricant actuated va'lve device for interrupting communicationbetween said receptacle and chamber. I

28. Lubricating apparatus for forcing grease or oil under pressure intomachine bearings through nipples associated with said bearings having,in combination; means forming a relatively non-rotatable lubricantreceiving chamber, nozzle for connection to a nipple, and lubricantreceptacle, said nozzle having means for sealing the joint between thesame and said nipple; an operating ha'ndle connected to a stem extendinginto said receptacle, alubricant displacing member'in said receptacleoperatively con nected to said stem; and means actuated by rotation ofsaid handle for-connecting said nozz'leto a nipple and thereafterforcing lubricant under relatively low potential pressure by saiddisplacing member from said receptacleinto said chamber and forcing thelubricant under relatively high potential pressure from said chamberinto said nipple,

said means comprising a fluid actuated valve device for interruptingcommunication tween said receptacle and chamber.

29 Lubricating apparatus for forcing grease or oil under pressure intomachine bearings through nipples associated with said bearings having,in combination; means forming a relatively non-rotatable lubricantreceiving chamber, nozzle for connection to a nipple, and lubricantreceptacle, said nozzle having sealing means for engaging the iosperiphery of said nipple; an operating into said chamber and forcing thelubricant 1 handle connected to a stem extending into under relativelyhigh potential pressure from said receptacle, a lubricant displacingmemsaid chamber intosaid nipple, said means ber in said receptacleoperatively connected comprising a fluid actuated valve device for tosaid stem; and means actuated by rotation interrupting communicationbetween said reof said handle for connecting said nozzle to ceptacle andchamber. 15

anipple and thereafter forcing lubricant v .In testimony whereof, I havesigned my 'under relatively-low potential pressure by name to thisspecification.

said displacing member from said receptacle v v HOWARD J. MURPHY.

